Tankers transporting Saudi oil are changing their routes by signaling Egypt and the Suez Canal as their destinations rather than Saudi ports. This shift comes in response to recent threats and attacks from Yemen’s Houthi movement, as shipping companies seek to avoid becoming targets in the region.
Changing Shipping Routes in Response to Threats
The alteration in navigational signals follows a blockade announced by the Iran-backed Houthis in late July, which targeted Saudi ports and vessels in the Red Sea, as reported by Bloomberg. The group has intensified threats, promising to extend attacks to Saudi ships navigating the northern Red Sea. In light of these developments, Saudi Aramco has redirected several oil shipments in search of safer passageways.
One notable example is the tanker Sea Majesty, which recently approached the Suez Canal. Its draft suggested that it had picked up oil while sailing clandestinely—meaning its tracking device was turned off. According to data analysis firms Vortexa and Kpler, the vessel likely loaded cargo at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port but designated Egypt’s Ain Sukhna as its destination, strategically avoiding public acknowledgment of its route.
Another tanker, Maran Thetis, similarly indicated it was heading toward the Suez Canal while idling in the Gulf of Aden. Upon re-emerging on tracking systems days later, the tanker was reported to be fully loaded, with its cargo sourced from Yanbu. This suggests a broader trend among shipping companies to obscure the actual origins and destinations of their vessels.
Ain Sukhna: A Safer Alternative
As shipping companies modify their routes, Ain Sukhna has emerged as a crucial hub equipped with storage tanks and pipelines essential for oil movement through the Suez Canal, an essential conduit linking Asia and Europe. The tactical move toward Ain Sukhna and Egypt’s Sidi Kerir places these shipments at a safer distance from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, thereby mitigating attack risks.
The decision to obscure vessel movements reflects an overarching strategy amid the rising threat of attacks throughout the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. Additional vessels, including Front Empire and DHT Gazelle, have reportedly taken similar measures, loading cargo in stealth and reappearing on tracking systems only near the Suez Canal.
Emerging Risks Amid Continued Exports
While Saudi Arabia continues its oil exports, concerns linger over the potential instability of Egyptian ports if Houthi threats escalate. This environment has prompted tankers carrying Saudi and even Russian oil to increasingly bypass the Red Sea, opting instead for the longer journey around Africa to avoid security issues that have disrupted this vital shipping lane.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia has started diverting a portion of its Asia-bound crude from Yanbu to Sidi Kerir, allowing Asian customers to procure oil directly from the Mediterranean. This shift not only decreases dependency on the Red Sea but also provides a safeguard against the mounting risks associated with tanker operations in the region. As the landscape of maritime shipping continues to evolve, stakeholders must remain vigilant about the uncertainties and challenges posed by geopolitical tensions.